Venice Beach

Fourteen miles west of LA you’ll find Venice Beach. Founded by Abbot Kinney is the popular beach resort town. Kinney and Francis Ryan purchased two miles of oceanfront property. Investors built Ocean Park, Navy Street properties, and a seaside feel reminiscent of Venice Italy. In the early 1900s several miles of canals drained the marshy area. A pleasure pier was built, complete with auditorium, restaurant, dance hall, and more. Tourists arrived to see the Venetian architecture and toured via gondola. Despite all the infrastructure, Venice Beach was the biggest attraction of all.

Venice CA Beach

The area was called Ocean Park until changed to Venice in 1911. At that time you could rent a Venice Beach oceanfront home. The population started at just 3,000 and soon blossomed to 10,000 with a population of weekend tourists in the tens of thousands. More rides and games were added. The commercial district grew in segments. In a few short years several hundred thousand tourists came each weekend.

Venice was annexed to LA and for some time the area was neglected. The low rents attracted immigrants and young counterculture artists, poets, and writers. Much of those attitudes and that atmosphere is still felt today. In the 1960s and 1970s new high-rise apartments and condos were built. They have been impeccably maintained and updated to today’s standards. You may find some of those homes available on the Venice Beach MLS. And ask about the downtown lofts; Venice Art Lofts and Dogtown Station Lofts.

For Venice Realtors you can trust, work with Sean Harrison and Associates. We’d be pleased to show you all the area has to offer.

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